Cloud Storage Evaluation

Part B
Aaron Murdock

DGM 2271-X01
Cloud Storage Options
Google Drive
The cheapest option for the fea-
tures available. The first 15 GB
are free, and it’s $1.99/month for
100 GB. The strength for the team
would be online editing, which
means that users can edit docu-
ments and files in real time with
one another while in different loca-
tions (to an extent).
Another major pro to this option is
the file size limit, which is a whop-
ping 5 TB. Considering this particu-
lar project will be working on large
files with lots of graphics, that’s a
big plus.
It has the option of autosyncing,
and plans have storage all the way
up to 30 TB. The file system is easy
to use and rename.
1
OneDrive
OneDrive has 5 GB free or $2/
month for 50GB. It also has online
editing. If we wanted to get more,
it comes with Office 365 Suite and
jumps to $70/year for 1 TB. The in-
stallations for the Office 360 are for
only 1 PC or Mac.
There is a huge drawback in the
file size, which is 10 GB. For a game
project like this, that is too limiting.
Dropbox
Dropbox gives 2 GB free, but in-
cludes unlimited storage with the
desktop client as long as you have
room on your own hard drive as
well. A con of this service is the
inability to edit documents in real
time. Another downside is the file
size limit, which is again 10 GB.
The graph to the left shows a
comparison among the free
storage offered by the 3 com-
panies, as well as the file size
limits. Note that Google Drive
offers file size limits of 5 TB,
which would not fit on here, so
the dark blue bar continues off
the graph for quite a ways.
Primordia/Lucidia
Workgroup Management

2
Team Members

Aaron M. Raul R. Daniel R.

Roles: Roles: Roles:

• Programming • Programming • Design
• Sound • Sound • Story Concepts
• Story Concepts • Art • Sound
• Project Management • Project Management • Business
• Design • Story Concepts • Project Management

Ryan H. Autumn H. Jason A.

Roles: Roles: Roles:

• Testing • Testing • Programming
• QA • Art • Testing
• Design • QA • QA
• Business

3
Folder Structure

File Permissions in Google Drive

The files are named according to the various roles the team members
have, such as Programming, Sound, or Business. Only those who are
Project Management will have access to all of the folders. For example,
everyone but Ryan and Autumn will have access to the folder "Business"
because they are either Project Management or in the Business role.

Ground Rules for File Placement Hierarchy

Files will be placed according to the roles assumed by team members. De-
sign concepts for the game, such as controller layout ideas and menus, will
go in the Design folder and will be accessible to project managers and Lay-
out Designers. Story Concepts will be accessible to those over the story.

Within the folders the project managers will ensure files are properly
backed-up and kept organized. Only managers and those with the respec-
tive role may open editable version of files. For example, Autumn can
open the Art folder and edit the files, but Jason and Ryan cannot.

Each Project Manager will maintain backups of all files at all times on
personal computers using the automatic sync option. File versions will be
numbered according to the current game stage, i.e. "Main Theme 1.13.
mp3" or "Financial Report 1.24.doc".

4
Management Plan Diagram

• Assign Roles
Make sure roles fit the abilities of the team members. Ask them what
they feel they have most experience with.

• Organize Files
Create folders and make sure the hierarchy makes sense with the sched-
ule of production.

• Give File Permissions

Limit permissions to those who absolutely need access. Not everyone
needs to see the programming going on, or have access to sound files.

• Maintain Files
Get the project managers to maintain the organization and backup of
files, including the versions of each.

5
Conclusions

Costs of Using Google Drive

Although in the end the team would likely need to use the larger plans, maybe
even going up to 10 TB, That is still only $100/month. For a two year project,
which is an average time for indy game development, it would come to ~$2400,
perhaps less since storage needs would increase over time. That is not bad con-
sidering other costs like software, texture packs, and machine upgrades.

The alternatives were almost immediately take out of the running because of the
file upload limitations. Sound and graphical files can take up quite a bit of storage.

Which Mental Model?

As I worked on this project, I did not find myself considering as much the user
interaction with the game as I did the team's interaction with the project. There-
fore, I would call the mental model I used a system model. It is so on two levels:
this document considers the way I am interacting with the assignment and the
team, and how the team member will work on the project.